Three Democrats running for 1 seat in the Statehouse

DIANE SCARPONI

Published 12:00 am, Tuesday, September 5, 2000

DEEP RIVER -- There must be something in the water in the 36th General Assembly District that gives people an itch to get into politics.

The small Connecticut River Valley towns that make up the district have produced three Democrats who are waging a primary for the seat -- in a year when only seven of 374 possible races for major party nominations to legislative seats in Connecticut are contested.

Three Republicans also sought their party's nomination, but the two losers of the district convention are not forcing the endorsed candidate to a primary.

People in the area guess it's the most hotly contested race for the state Legislature this year. Service station owner Silvio Zanni Jr., who presides over a gang of gadflies across the street from Town Hall, summed it up this way: "It could be pretty touch-and-go."

The district includes all of Chester, Deep River and Lyme, the better part of Essex and a slice of Old Saybook.

It's considered Republican territory. The current state representative, Democrat Claire Sauer of Lyme, scored an upset when she won the seat six years ago.

Sauer, 71, decided to retire this year -- "There's other things I still want to do when I grow up," she says -- sparking a rush of interest among Democrats, who want to keep the seat in the family.

Republican candidate Linda Douglas, a lawyer and member of the Essex school board, could benefit if the Democratic primary divides voters.

"Time will tell if that's what occurred," said Douglas, 38. "I was pleased we did not have a primary because it allowed us to focus on what we needed to do, to maintain resources and energy to fight the real battle."

The Democrats have endorsed another Essex lawyer, James Spallone, 35. The endorsement earns him an asterisk next to his name on the ballot.

Spallone said he would prefer there be no primary, but he realizes that the other candidates have the right to challenge him for a spot on the ballot.

"There's three people who all feel we are qualified, and we're taking our case to the people," Spallone said.

Travelers who drive up from Essex and Deep River notice a change of scenery when they come to Chester, and see green campaign signs for Martin Heft sprouting from many lawns.

Heft, who is in his fourth term as Chester's first selectman, graduated from Valley Regional School with Spallone.

"It's going to boil down to who's going to best serve with their knowledge, experience, dedication and commitment," Heft said.

The third candidate in the primary, Eileen Baker, is an educator for the deaf and has been on the Board of Education in Old Saybrook for 11 years.

"People are looking out for the best person to represent them. Many times, they don't have a choice, and I think the excitement is from having a choice," said Baker, 48.